Life / Would you intervene in a mugging on a street in Poland? [16]


No, not at all, but the guy who made the complaint to the police judges it as a chance to get plenty of money in compensation from a civil suit, and paid quickly, not in umpteen installments. That was the reason he made the complaint against the guy who intervened.

The accuseds' professions and salaries are printed on the Akta Oskarzenia, one a basic level doctor, from the former USSR, and the other a 'western businessman' earning more than six times as much. The lout who made the complaint wants money badly and this is a wonderful chance for him to get it.

In this case, the person who intervened didn't lift a finger, but the question is, how can he prove this? There is a witness, but not apparently neutral. And under Polish law, an allegation and a medical report consistent with the allegation are very hard to disprove.

BTW, the camera thing is a good idea. I stopped a burglary in the same way and my friend in UK took photos of some people lurking by the back door of a bank (next to his house) just before opening time. The police got there just in time, but the photos were used to catch the members of the group who got away.

As for differences between UK and Poland for crime - I was burgled 5 times in UK, but no street crime. I have never been burgled here, but had an (attempted) mugging here, in broad daylight and a stolen wallet, a stolen coat and two mobiles stolen. One good thing is that the local media in Warsaw publish 'crime maps', showing a red dot for each incident of street crime.

Out of interest, pickpocketing seems to be on the rise here - people only report it to the police if there are documents lost, but more and more people tell me it's happened to them recently.

News / Nobility / Aristocracy in Poland ? [92]


No, he's just resigned.

Life / Would you intervene in a mugging on a street in Poland? [16]

Be very careful about intervening in a fight in the street. Call the police before you lift a finger.

The Polish 'legal system' is perverse. My friend broke up a fight between some lout and a little guy he was attacking, and is now waiting to go to court charged with serious assault. The attacker, a 27 year old 6'7" farmer with a drink problerm claimed that his victim, a middle aged 5'4" doctor and the 'have-a-go' hero (who is British, and a professional person with a very high income) brutally attacked him. and of course wants compensation money.

The law here doesn't seem to take the circumstances of a 'crime' into account, prosecutors have to pass cases where the 'victim' has had medical photos done, and the 'victim' is pressing charges, on to the courts for a trial, and my friend's lawyers say anything could happen, depending on the caprice of the judge.

So when Poles start bashing each other, either call the police and don't lift a finger, or just leave them to it. You could be opening up a can of worms.

News / THOUSANDS OF YOUNG ISRAELIS FLOODING POLAND [93]

For reference:


and other references at the same site.

Source: [jewishgen.org/Cemetery/e-europe/pol-x-z.html]

News / EU Parlimentary Elections June '09 - Any non-Poles registered to vote? [8]

Just take your Polish ID Card and register. I've voted in local elections for the past 4 years and will vote in national elections as soon as the European rules for that are harmonised, which is apparently in the pipeline. Since we pay tax here we should vote - just ignore the disapproving glares from the Mohair Beret brigade.

UK, Ireland / Looking for a Polish psychologist in England. [11]

You might find one advertising on the Polish-language version of Gumtree or on one of the expat Polish websites. But If you're looking for it on the NHS, the Community Health Trust that your GP makes the referral to might be able to track one down. In Manchester there are certainly Polish-speaking Social Workers (and have been for years due to the elderly Polish population) and they might be able to sort something out.

Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]


And some people wonder why we feel the need to march through the streets asserting our rights and celebrating our lifestyles....

Life / Polish Jazz / Jazz nad Odra festival in Poland [28]

Tygmont is indeed great. Some people like Akwarium under Złoty Taras or Metro in the Hotel Metropol, but live music in those places is a bit sporadic. There's Jazz Bar (about 30 metres from the South-east exit of Metro Stokłosy, but it's hard to tell when they are planning a live session. When they do, it's good.

Life / CAN ANYONE TELL ME WERE I CAN BUY A 2M SATELITTE DISH IN POLAND [12]


Hi! Try the link below for a 1.8 metre dish. they also have a few others, but it's worth checking every day on this site, since the items change.

allegro.pl/item570578172_antena_satelitarna_180_cm_firmy_laminas.html

Life / Homosexuals in Poland / Hands off (PETITION) [797]


Nice post which sums up a lot of what the political gay movement is about.

As for gay and lesbian people from Islamic countries, I know a few who have come here to Warsaw for a better life.

Life / English Books in Poznan [13]

The British Council library on Ratajczaka (directions above) is excellent!

Life / MARKS & SPENCER IN WARSAW [15]

Also try 'Kuchnie Świata' at Złoty Taras and Arkadia. They have quite an interesting selection of foreign foods for those tired of Polish 'cuisine'.

Life / CAN ANYONE TELL ME WERE I CAN BUY A 2M SATELITTE DISH IN POLAND [12]

Try allegro.pl (a Polish version of Ebay). They have some cheap ones at the moment.

Life / Are there any good vitamin shops in Warsaw? [9]

Rossmann have some, and there's a vitamin and healthfood shop on the bottom level of Zloty Taras. There are plenty of bodybuilder shops - a popular one is in the corridors under Dworzec Centralny.

Life / When in Poland, should I be British or Scottish? [104]

People here don't quite get the concept of Britishness. People assume from my surname that I'm Scottish, people who've met my family assume I'm Welsh, If they aski about my roots they describe me as Irish and when I say I'm from the North of England, they say "You mean Scotland?".

UK, Ireland / Polish people in an english army [85]

But would a Polish citizen be able, in all conscience, to swear the Oath of Allegiance to The Queen? And what would happen if there was some sort of European conflict and he found himself having to bear arms against Poland?

History / The movie Defiance is a big lie (heroes that saved Poland suppored communism) [102]


Yes and no. There are no statistics about the number of Polish citizens killed for being homosexual during the holocaust - remember it wasn't illegal in pre-war Poland, and at leasr one gay bar remained open in Warsaw during the war. The only reliable statistic is that up to 55000 German and French citizens were killed for being gay. Europe-wide, 100000 is commonly quoted.

As for the film Defiance, nobody but an idiot expects Hollywood to be accurate. Remamber Braveheart and just about any film touching on the struggle for Irish independence.

News / "We buy out Poland, Hungary, and Romania!" - the President of Israel [74]


Hmmmm...

If President Kaczynski made a speech saying that thanks to dynamism etc, Polish investors are buying up Manhattan, Hungary etc and that it's almost amazing, would you be "speechless at his arrogance" or proud?

History / Who Was Really Behind the Shooting of John Paul II? [21]

Perhaps 'anti-monarchist' is a better term than 'republican' on an international forum - I was using the word in its UK rather than US meaning (very different concepts and individuals. As for Wikipedia, the English language version doesn't seem too heavily policed, given some of the aggressive disscussions and edits that happen. The Polish version is however somewhat controlled.

As for shadowy secret societies, I find it hard to believe they exist - life just ain't like thAt. And if seemingly opposing groups like "CIA/Zionists/Rothschilds/Arabs" are working together rather than fighting each other, surely that's a good thing?

Though Joe, I think you're right that there are financial conspiracies, just that they're not so well organised or wide ranging. As for the Rothschilds, they are a business 'empire' controlled by managers, rather than a shadowy group with dark ambitions. As for the assassination attempt on JPII (who by the way openly and honestly co-operated with the US and British govenments - even the CIA and MI6 - against communism), the finger should be pointed to the USSR and its satellites.

Life / Where to get a cup of coffee in Warsaw? [40]


They've announced that they're opening branches in PL this year.

History / Who Was Really Behind the Shooting of John Paul II? [21]

Worth remembering that the 'Illuminati' was a short-lived republican movement popular among university teachers in 18th century Bavaria and for the past 200 years has existed only in the minds of conspiracy theorists. It's true that none of the post-war Popes have been masons. Some of his more right-wing detractors claim JPII was a member. He wasn't as far as I know, although some of his best friends certainly were.

I thought the Mehmet Ali Agca thing has been cleared up years ago. Wikipedia has a good article on the matter.

News / The Heart of John Paul 2 will be in Wawel. [14]

Nice thought, but he made it crystal clear that he didn't want to be buried in PL. What's more important, his wishes or those of others?

Life / Polish Police - my bad experience. [33]

I've had good and bad experiences. When I first came here I was stopped arbitrarily by the police in Warsaw and had money stolen from my wallet by them. On the other hand, when I needed them recently they were very good. People say they are changing for the better, especially in the capital.

Life / Expats in Poland: Are you going to live in Poland long or short term? [65]

Came here ten years ago (planning to stay for a year) and liked it. Opened a business, so here long-term. With every year that passes I have fewer ties 'at home' and more here.

It seems almost surreal that five years after I came from the UK to Poland, thousands of people started to move from Poland to the UK. The world is getting smaller.

Hard to say what I like/dislike about PL, being here feels normal and my life is here whether I like it or not - it would be an enormous upheaval to leave. I suppose I ended up here by chance, though I don't regret even one minute of my time here.

News / The Heart of John Paul 2 will be in Wawel. [14]

People won't forget him quickly. Though it's worth remembering that he left a last will and testament making it very clear that his body was not to be mucked about with and that he wanted to be buried in the Vatican. In one piece. His wishes should be respected.

Life / Where can i get a real good piece of juicy steak in Warsaw....? [15]

I agree! The Poles have many fine qualities but good beef butchery is not one of them. The first time I bought steak, it was cut using a bread knife by an old lady who wiped the blood off her fingers onto her dress. That was at Marcpol.

Try Carrefour. They're a bit hit and miss but sometimes have good steak. If not there, try the shopping arcade next to Hala Mirowska (NOT the Hala itself, but the newer buildings to the right. There are some reasonable butchers there and sometimes even lamb. Mini Europa have good steak but expensive.

UK, Ireland / Angelika Kluk's murderer found guilty of killing Vicky Hamilton. [5]


In Scotland. Probably in Saughton Maximum Security Prison.

The police think he might have been 'Bible John', the serial killer who was active years ago. Apparently he was in the neighbourhood at the time, and the killings stopped as soon as he moved away. A vile individual.

Life / How to wire a plug in Poland? [16]

Plug converters (both ways) are quite cheap - Argos or Electroworld in the UK and Media Saturn or Electroworld in PL stock them. When coming to PL, don't just use shaver converters - they can stick in the sockets here, especially if the sockets are new or good quality.

News / Helena Wolinska dead [90]

Remember, Celinski, that you posted about her, saying she had been extradited to Poland? I wondered where you got that from, now it's clear - nowhere!

It's sad that people like Pani Wolinska, who committed crimes are able to get away scot-free, but there comes a time when a line must be drawn under the past, so life can go forward.